Robert Donat

Robert Donat (March 18, 1905 - June 9, 1958) was an English actor, best remembered for his roles in The 39 Steps and Goodbye, Mr. Chips (for which he won an Academy Award). Donat was born in Manchester, of Polish descent, but his success owed much to the image of an English gentleman which he projected. He made his first stage appearance in 1921 and his film debut in 1932 in The Private Life of Henry VIII, under the great Alexander Korda. However, he suffered from ill-health (asthma) throughout his career, and his last role, as a Chinese mandarin in The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is memorable because it was apparent that he knew he was close to death. He was married briefly to British actress Renee Asherson.